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Chorus
Look, there comes our lord, Theseus son of Aegeus,
at the sound of your voice, to do that for which he was summoned.
550
Enter Theseus.
Look, there comes our lord, Theseus son of Aegeus,
at the sound of your voice, to do that for which he was summoned.
550
Theseus
Through hearing from many in the past about the bloody marring of your sight, I recognized it was you, son of Laius; and now on coming here, through sight I am more fully certain.
For your clothing and that heart-rending face alike assure me that it is you. And in all compassion I ask you, ill-fated Oedipus, with what petition to the city and to me have you taken your place here, you and the poor maiden at your side. Declare it. Dire indeed must be the fortune which you tell,
555
for me to stand aloof from it; since I know that I myself also was reared in exile, just as you, and that in foreign lands I wrestled with perils to my life, like no other man.
560
Never, then, would I turn aside from a stranger, such as you are now, or refuse to help in his deliverance. For I know well that I am a man, and that my portion of tomorrow is no greater than yours.
565
Through hearing from many in the past about the bloody marring of your sight, I recognized it was you, son of Laius; and now on coming here, through sight I am more fully certain.
For your clothing and that heart-rending face alike assure me that it is you. And in all compassion I ask you, ill-fated Oedipus, with what petition to the city and to me have you taken your place here, you and the poor maiden at your side. Declare it. Dire indeed must be the fortune which you tell,
555
for me to stand aloof from it; since I know that I myself also was reared in exile, just as you, and that in foreign lands I wrestled with perils to my life, like no other man.
560
Never, then, would I turn aside from a stranger, such as you are now, or refuse to help in his deliverance. For I know well that I am a man, and that my portion of tomorrow is no greater than yours.
565
Oedipus
Theseus, in a few words your nobleness has come to such a point
that I need make only a brief reply. You have said who I am, from what father I am sprung, and from what land I have come; and so nothing else remains for me but to speak my wish, and the tale is told.
570
Theseus, in a few words your nobleness has come to such a point
that I need make only a brief reply. You have said who I am, from what father I am sprung, and from what land I have come; and so nothing else remains for me but to speak my wish, and the tale is told.
570
Theseus
Then inform me of this very thing, so that I may learn it.
575
Then inform me of this very thing, so that I may learn it.
575
Oedipus
I come to offer you my care-worn body as a gift—not one fine to look on, but the gains from it are better than beauty.
579
I come to offer you my care-worn body as a gift—not one fine to look on, but the gains from it are better than beauty.
Theseus
And what gain do you claim to have brought?
And what gain do you claim to have brought?
Oedipus
Later you may learn it—but not yet.
580
Later you may learn it—but not yet.
580
Theseus
At what time, then, will the benefit become clear?
At what time, then, will the benefit become clear?
Oedipus
When I am dead, and you have given me burial.
When I am dead, and you have given me burial.
Theseus
You crave life’s last service; but for all between you have no memory, or no care.
You crave life’s last service; but for all between you have no memory, or no care.
Oedipus
Indeed, for by that service I gather in all the rest.
585
Indeed, for by that service I gather in all the rest.
585
Theseus
Well then, this favor you crave from me is brief indeed.
Well then, this favor you crave from me is brief indeed.
Oedipus
Yet take care; the struggle here is no light one. No, indeed.
Yet take care; the struggle here is no light one. No, indeed.
Theseus
Do you mean in respect to your sons, or to me?
Do you mean in respect to your sons, or to me?
Oedipus
They will compel you to convey me there to
Thebes
.
They will compel you to convey me there to
Thebes
.
Theseus
But if you are willing, then exile is not becoming.
590
But if you are willing, then exile is not becoming.
590
Oedipus
No, when I was willing, they refused.
No, when I was willing, they refused.
Theseus
Foolish man, anger amidst woes is not suitable.
Foolish man, anger amidst woes is not suitable.
Oedipus
When you have heard my story, admonish; till then, forbear.
When you have heard my story, admonish; till then, forbear.
Theseus
Speak. I must not pronounce without knowledge.
Speak. I must not pronounce without knowledge.
Oedipus
I have suffered, Theseus, terrible woes upon woes.
595
I have suffered, Theseus, terrible woes upon woes.
595
Theseus
Will you speak of the ancient trouble of your race?
Will you speak of the ancient trouble of your race?
Oedipus
No, indeed; all Greeks speak of that.
No, indeed; all Greeks speak of that.
Theseus
How, then, do you suffer beyond what is mortal?
How, then, do you suffer beyond what is mortal?
Oedipus
The circumstance is this: from my country I have been driven by my own sons;
and I may not return, since I am guilty of a father’s blood.
600
The circumstance is this: from my country I have been driven by my own sons;
and I may not return, since I am guilty of a father’s blood.
600
Theseus
Why would they have you brought back, if you must dwell apart?
Why would they have you brought back, if you must dwell apart?
Oedipus
The word of the god will compel them.
The word of the god will compel them.
Theseus
What suffering do they fear from the oracles?
What suffering do they fear from the oracles?
Oedipus
That they must be struck down in this land.
605
That they must be struck down in this land.
605
Theseus
And how should bitterness come between them and me?
607
And how should bitterness come between them and me?
Oedipus
Dearest son of Aegeus, to the gods alone old age and death never come, but everything else sinks into chaos from time which overpowers all.
Earth’s strength decays, and so too the strength of the body; trust dies; distrust is born; and the same spirit is never steadfast among friends, or between city and city. For some now, for others tomorrow, sweet feelings turn to bitter, and then once more to being dear.
610
And if now the sun shines brightly between
Thebes
and you, yet time in his course gives birth to days and nights untold, in which from a small cause they will
615
scatter with the spear today’s pledges of concord. Then one day my slumbering and buried corpse, cold in death, will drink their warm blood, if Zeus is still Zeus, and Phoebus, the son of Zeus, speaks clear.
But, since I would not break silence concerning words that must not spoken, allow me to cease where I began.
620
Only keep your own pledge good, and never will you say that in vain you welcomed Oedipus to dwell in this land—if indeed the gods do not deceive me.
625
Dearest son of Aegeus, to the gods alone old age and death never come, but everything else sinks into chaos from time which overpowers all.
Earth’s strength decays, and so too the strength of the body; trust dies; distrust is born; and the same spirit is never steadfast among friends, or between city and city. For some now, for others tomorrow, sweet feelings turn to bitter, and then once more to being dear.
610
And if now the sun shines brightly between
Thebes
and you, yet time in his course gives birth to days and nights untold, in which from a small cause they will
615
scatter with the spear today’s pledges of concord. Then one day my slumbering and buried corpse, cold in death, will drink their warm blood, if Zeus is still Zeus, and Phoebus, the son of Zeus, speaks clear.
But, since I would not break silence concerning words that must not spoken, allow me to cease where I began.
620
But, since I would not break silence concerning words that must not spoken, allow me to cease where I began.
Only keep your own pledge good, and never will you say that in vain you welcomed Oedipus to dwell in this land—if indeed the gods do not deceive me.
625
Chorus
Lord, from the first this man has shown a
will to bring these words, or similar ones, to completion for our land.
630
Lord, from the first this man has shown a
will to bring these words, or similar ones, to completion for our land.
630
Theseus
Who, then, would reject the goodwill of such a one? To whom, first, the hearth of a spear-friend is always available on our side, by reciprocal right; then too he has come as a suppliant to our gods,
paying no small recompense to this land and to me. In reverence for these claims, I will never spurn his favor, and I will establish a dwelling for him as a citizen in the land. And if it is the pleasure of the stranger to remain here, I will command you to
635
protect him; or, if it pleases him, to come with me. This choice or that, Oedipus, you may take; your desire will be mine.
640
642
Who, then, would reject the goodwill of such a one? To whom, first, the hearth of a spear-friend is always available on our side, by reciprocal right; then too he has come as a suppliant to our gods,
paying no small recompense to this land and to me. In reverence for these claims, I will never spurn his favor, and I will establish a dwelling for him as a citizen in the land. And if it is the pleasure of the stranger to remain here, I will command you to
635
protect him; or, if it pleases him, to come with me. This choice or that, Oedipus, you may take; your desire will be mine.
640
Oedipus
O Zeus, may you be good to men such as these!
O Zeus, may you be good to men such as these!
Theseus
What is your wish, then? Will you come to my house?
What is your wish, then? Will you come to my house?
Oedipus
Yes, I would, if it were right. But this is the place—
Yes, I would, if it were right. But this is the place—
Theseus
What will you do here? Speak, for I will not hinder you.
645
What will you do here? Speak, for I will not hinder you.
645
Oedipus
—Where I will conquer those who cast me out.
—Where I will conquer those who cast me out.
Theseus
The promised gift of your presence would be great.
The promised gift of your presence would be great.
Oedipus
It shall be, if you keep your pledge with me.
It shall be, if you keep your pledge with me.
Theseus
Have courage concerning me; never will I betray you.
Have courage concerning me; never will I betray you.
Oedipus
I will not bind you with an oath as if an evil man.
650
I will not bind you with an oath as if an evil man.
650
Theseus
Well, you would win nothing more than by my word.
Well, you would win nothing more than by my word.
Oedipus
What will you do, then?
What will you do, then?
Theseus
What is it that you fear?
What is it that you fear?
Oedipus
Men will come—
Men will come—
Theseus
But these men here will see to that.
But these men here will see to that.
Oedipus
Beware that if you leave me—
Beware that if you leave me—
Theseus
Do not instruct me in my duties.
Do not instruct me in my duties.
Oedipus
Fear constrains me—
655
Fear constrains me—
655
Theseus
My heart feels no fear.
My heart feels no fear.
Oedipus
You do not know the threats—
You do not know the threats—
Theseus
I know that none will lead you from here against my will. Often threats have blustered in men’s hearts with words loud and vain; but when the mind comes to itself once more,
the threats have vanished. For those men, too, perhaps—yes, even if in boldness they have spoken dreadful things of bringing you back, the voyage here will prove long and hard to sail. Now I exhort you, apart from any decision of mine, to take heart,
660
if indeed Phoebus has been your escort here. Even if I am not present, still my name, I know, will shield you from harm.
665
I know that none will lead you from here against my will. Often threats have blustered in men’s hearts with words loud and vain; but when the mind comes to itself once more,
the threats have vanished. For those men, too, perhaps—yes, even if in boldness they have spoken dreadful things of bringing you back, the voyage here will prove long and hard to sail. Now I exhort you, apart from any decision of mine, to take heart,
660
if indeed Phoebus has been your escort here. Even if I am not present, still my name, I know, will shield you from harm.
665
Oedipus at Colonus. Sophocles. Richard Jebb (Translator). Cambridge. 1889.
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Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.